What Is the OFA Level 2 Intermediate First Aid Course?
In this article
What OFA Level 2 actually stands for
OFA stands for Occupational First Aid. Level 2 is the middle of WorkSafeBC's three-tier system, sitting between Level 1 (a one-day basic course) and Level 3 (a ten-day advanced program). In industry it is almost always referred to as the Intermediate First Aid (IFA) course, and it is the certification most BC employers actually ask for in job postings.
Scope of practice
An OFA Level 2 attendant is trained to assess and treat a wide range of workplace injuries and medical emergencies. Core skills include scene assessment, primary and secondary patient surveys, CPR and AED operation on adults, children and infants, airway management with adjuncts, oxygen therapy with bag-valve-mask ventilation, shock recognition, bleeding control up to and including tourniquets, spinal immobilisation, fracture splinting, recognition and management of medical emergencies (stroke, chest pain, anaphylaxis, diabetic events) and safe patient handover to BC EMS.
If you want a deeper look at the clinical skills the course teaches, our guides to CPR basics, airway management and bleeding control walk through each one in detail.
Duration, hours and assessment
The course is approximately 14 hours of instruction, typically delivered over one or two days depending on the provider. Mainland Safety Training delivers it over two consecutive days so there is time for hands-on skill stations and realistic scenario practice. The final assessment is both a written exam and a practical scenario, and your WorkSafeBC certificate is valid for three years from the day you pass.
Who typically takes the IFA course
The course is designed for workers, supervisors, safety personnel and anyone in industry who needs intermediate-level first aid skills. In practice, most students come from construction, manufacturing, warehousing, film production, municipal crews, forestry support roles, transportation and logistics. Read why BC employers hire OFA Level 2 workers for the full breakdown of who benefits.
Where to take it in BC
Mainland Safety Training delivers the Intermediate First Aid course at ten locations across British Columbia: Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley, Richmond, Delta, Coquitlam, Abbotsford, Kelowna and Victoria. Call 604-617-0211 or register online.
About this site: IntermediateFirstAidTraining.ca is operated by Mainland Safety Training, a WorkSafeBC and Canadian Red Cross authorized provider. Our OFA Level 2 Intermediate First Aid course is delivered across Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley, Richmond, Delta, Coquitlam, Abbotsford, Kelowna and Victoria.